Method for treating textile materials to uniformly set their shape



Sept. 22, 1970 3,530,214

METHOD FOR TREATING TEXTILE MATERIALS 'IO UNIFORMLY SET THEIR APE FiledFeb. 1967 F/G.Z-

' INVENTOR JUL/US H'PM-TS BY @J a, flea... viz:

ATTORNEYS ilnited States Patent 3,530,214 METHOD FOR TREATING TEXTILEMATERIALS T0 UNIFORMLY SET THEIR SHAPE Julius Hermes, Martinsville, Va.,assignor of one-half to Bernard Klebanow, New York, N.Y. Filed Feb. 24,1967, Ser. No. 618,433- Int. Cl. D06c 3/00 US. Cl. 264-342 1 ClaimABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method is described for treating a textilefabric web of synthetic fibers with interlacing loops and offsets touniformly reset its shape and texture at a higher elastic memory. Whilesupported in an unstretched condition, the web is immersed in a bath ofliquid treating medium maintained at a temperature above the temperatureat which the original texture was imparted to the fabric but below theglass transition temperature of the fibers. The liquid medium is causedto flow concurrently at a predetermined relative velocity with respectto the web to control the degree of web texture. The Web is thereaftercooled so that the texture is uniformly reset at the higher elasticmemory.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In synthetic textile materials, such aspolyesters, polyamides, polyacrylics and triacetate filaments, the yarnsgenerally consist of bundles of filaments or fibers which have beentexturized to impart the desired bulk, appearance and hand thereto. Thetexture is generally provided by crimping, curling, bending or otherwiseoffsetting the synthetic filaments at an elevated temperature above thetemperature at which they take a permanent set and substantially belowthe glass transition temperature. The elastic memory of these materialsis such that the texture will be maintained in the fibers or filamentsat temperatures below the temperature at which they were set. However,the oifsets can be pulled out and destroyed at temperatures above theirset temperature.

The texture providing offsets are important in providing the desirednatural appearance, bulk and hand to the completed textile fabric. Wherethe textile fabric is subjected to temperatures higher than thetemperatures at which the texture was set in subsequent processingoperations and in use of the fabric, the texture is partially orcompletely obliterated or destroyed thereby impairing the desirednatural appearance, bulk and hand of the fabric.

Attempts have been made to reset the texture in the fabric by subjectingthe fabric to air, heated to a temperature above the original settemperature. However, this procedure has proven unsatisfactory in thatit is diflicult to uniformly reset all of the texture providing offsetsby simply subjecting the fabric to hot air.

In addition to the foregoing problems, I have also found that when thesynthetic yarns are woven, knitted or otherwise interlaced in forming afabric web, further interlacing offsets or loops are formed in the yarnswhere they are woven or knitted with each other. These loops or offsetsalso serve to porvide bulk, hand or natural appearance to the fabric.When these interlacing offsets or loops are partially obliterated orflattened out in subsequent treating operations and in use, theappearance, bulk and hand of the fabric is further impaired and thefabric is subject to loss of dimensional stability and distortion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvedmethod of treating a textile fabric web formed of synthetic fibers "icewhich have been texturized at a predetermined elevated temperature in amanner so as to uniformly reset the original texture providing offsetsin the filaments or fibers and so as to uniformly set the interlacingloops and offsets in the yarns. The method contemplates supporting thefabric web in an open, relaxed condition with the fibers in unstretchedcondition and the texture providing offsets and the interlacing loopsand offsets maintained therein. While thus supported, the fabric web isimmersed in a liquid treating medium heated to a temperature higher thanthat at which the texture was imparted to the synthetic fibers and alsohigher than the temperatures to which the fabric is normally subjectedin the subsequent processing and use thereof, but at a temperature belowthe glass transition temperature of the material. The liquid medium iscaused to flow concurrently at a predetermined relative velocity withrespect to the web. By thus controlling the velocity of the liquidmedium relative to the web the degree of web texture can be increased,decreased or maintained constant. Where the fabric Web has not beenpreshrunk, the process may be modified to allow for the shrinkage, bothin the longitudinal and transverse directions, by overfeeding of thefabric web on to the apparatus at a rate equal to the percentage oflongitudinal shrinkage and by adjusting the width of the apparatus toallow for the transverse shrinkage of the fabric web as the web passesthrough the treating zone. Upon cooling of the web below the temperatureof the medium, the texture providing offsets have been uniformly resetand the interlacing loops and offsets have been uniformly set at arelatively high elastic memory so that it can thereafter withstandnormal processing and usage while still maintaining its texture and itsnatural appearance, bulk and hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In practicing the inventionherein, I have found that a textile fabric web, formed of syntheticfibers which have been textured, can be rapidly treated at apredetermined elevated temperature in a manner so as to uniformly resetthe texture providing crimps and offsets in the filaments or fibers andso as to uniformly set the interlacing loops and offsets in the yarns,whereby the treated fabric web can withstand normal processing and usagewhile maintaining its texture, natural appearance, bulk and hand.

The textile fabric web is continuously fed on to an apparatus at apredetermined controlled rate and is supported thereon in an open,relaxed condition with the fibers in unstretched condition with aminimum of tension so that the texture providing offsets and theinterlacing loops and olfsets formed in the yarn are maintained therein.Any suitable apparatus may be employed which will convey a fabric web ata given speed. Such an apparatus may be a tenter frame which employspins or clips to support the fabric web at a controlled width between apair of moving rails. The fabric web is continuously fed onto such anapparatus and is maintained at a predetermined controlled width and at afixed rate of speed.

To adjust for any longitudinal shrinkage of the fabric web, the feedingmeans is set at a controlled rate of overfeed with the fabric websupported on the apparatus in an unstretched, relaxed condition; theoverfeed being substantially equal to the shrinkage of the fabric web inthe longitudinal direction after the web has passed through the treatingzone. Also, after the fabric web has been supported on the apparatus,the width of the apparatus may be reduced gradually to a widthsubstantially equal to the shrinkage of the fabric web in the transversedirection. The adjusted width is generally con- 3 trolled while thefabric web is passing through the treating zone.

Where shrinkage of the fabric web is not a factor, then the feed of thefabric web onto the apparatus will be substantially equal to the speedof the supporting means of the apparatus so as to maintain the fabricweb in an open, unstretched and relaxed condition.

I have found that the velocity of the web being conveyed on theapparatus may be as slow as 1 ft./second and is preferably 1 to 15ft./second.

A treating zone to uniformly reset the texture Providing crimps andoffsets in the filaments or fibers and to set the interlacing loops andoffsets in the yarns at a relatively high elastic memory is provided andis disposed in the path of movement of the fabric web.

A liquid treating medium or bath, which is maintained at an elevatedtemperature higher than that at which the texture was imparted to thesynthetic fibers and also higher than the temperatures to which thefabric is normally subjected in subsequent processing and use thereofbut at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of thefabric web, is disposed in the treating zone so that the web is immersedtherein and passes therethrough. The treating time of the fabric web issuch that the web will be undamaged by the action of the liquid treatingmedium and yet sufficient to raise the temperature of the web tosubstantially that of the liquid treating medium but below the glasstransition point of the web. Suitable treatment times may be as short asapproximately 1 second and as long as 15 seconds, and preferably areapproximately 3 to 7 seconds.

It has been found advantageous in many instances to cause the treatingliquid to flow concurrently with the fabric web being treated at avelocity substantially equal to the velocity of the web, so that therelative velocity of the liquid with respect to the web approaches Zero.In this manner, additional tensive forces are not present whensubjecting the web to the treating medium and the only forces presentwill be those exerted by the mass of the web and the surface tension ofthe liquid treating medium.

The texture of the fabric web is maintained and the elastic memory ofthe texture providing crimps and offsets in the filaments or fibers israised to a temperature higher than that previously imparted thereto,which elastic memory is also imparted to the interlacing loops andoifsets of the yarns.

The treated fabric web is then withdrawn from the liquid treating mediumby the supporting apparatus without the application of additionalforces. Any force exerted on the fabric web at this point in the processwill alter the texture of the web, i.e., a longitudinal force may removeall or part of the texture longitudinally of the web and transverseforce may remove all or part of the texture transversely of the web.

Then the withdrawn treated fabric web is passed to a cooling and washingbath which is maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature ofthe treating liquid and will uniformly reset the texture providingcrimps and offsets in the filaments or fibers and uniformly set theinterlacing loops and offsets of the yarns, as well as remove excesstreating liquid from the web. The temperature of the washing bath isgenerally at ambient temperature, for economy, but may be controlled atlower than ambient temperature or, as stated above, below thetemperature of the treating liquid.

After the fabric web has been cooled and washed, the web may be dried ormay be further processed by applying finishing treatment materials, suchas dyes, anti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

Where the fabric web to be treated requires an alteration in thetexture, this may be accomplished by controlling the tension of the web,by controlling the rate of feed and/or width of the web, or bycontrolling the flow and/or direction of the liquid treating medium.

Where the texture is to be modified to partially remove the degree ofset, the flow rate of the liquid treating medium may be increased in thedirection of movement of the web, or may flow counter to the directionof move ment of the web feed to increase the degree of texture.

In addition, by altering the feed of the fabric web a different desiredtexture may be obtained by controlled overfeed or underfeed thereof,thereby imparting a uniformly greater or lesser degree of texture thanthat previously imparted to the fabric web. Similarly, by supporting thefabric web at a width greater or lesser than the relaxed width, similarresults are obtained in the transverse direction, Thus, either thetransverse and/or the longitudinal texture of the treated fabric web maybe controlled as desired.

The liquid treating medium may comprise any of the polyhydric alcohols,alkylene carbonates, or mixtures thereof. Also, the liquid treatingmedium may comprise a mixture of any of the polyhydric alcohols anddiglycolic acid or phosphoric acid. Examples of polyhydric alcohols areethylene or diethylene glycol, propylene or dipropylene glycol; examplesof alkylene carbonates are ethylene or diethylene carbonate, propyleneor dipropylene carbonate. The boiling points of various polyhydricalcohols which may be employed are as follows:

F. Ethylene glycol 387 Diethylene glycol 472 Triethylene glycol 533Tetraethylene glycol 586 Propylene glycol 371 Dipropylene glycol 449 Thetemperature of the liquid treating medium may vary widely, and may be aslow as approximately 300 F. or as high as 450 F. or more, depending uponthe use to which the fabric web will be subjected and the type ofsynthetic material being treated. For example, the following table setsforth the glass transition points of several widely known syntheticmaterials:

F. Polyamides (nylon) Approximately 340 Acrylonitrile polymer (Orlon)-Approximately 370-380 Polyester (Dacron) Approximately 450 Cellulosetriacetate (Arnel) Approximately 350 If the material is to be employedas wearing apparel which necessitates washing and ironing, then the settemperature may be as high as 350-450 F. However, if the material is tobe used, for example, as a rug, then the set temperature need only behigh enough to withstand processing and finishing, such as dyeingprocedures, since a rug will not normally be subjected to temperaturesabove boiling water, i.e., 212 F.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In describing the invention herein,a suitable apparatus as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be employed.FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of an apparatus suitable fortreating textile materials to uniformly set their shape and FIG. 2 is atop elevational view of the supporting means of the apparatus in whichthe fabric web is shown mounted thereon prior to and after it has passedthrough the treating zone.

In FIG. 1, the apparatus is a modified pin type tenter frame in which anoffset is provided for immersing the fabric web in the treating medium.The fabric web formed into a roll 10 is passed through a feeding means12 and mounted on pins 14 of tenter chain 16. The fabric web issupported thereon by pins 14 in an open, relaxed and unstretchedcondition by providing the width of the tenter frame to be substantiallyequal to the fabric web. When it is desired, the fabric web is fed ontothe tenter frame at a controlled rate of overfeed substantially equal tothe percentage of shrinkage of the web in the longitudinal directionthereby providing for longitudinal shrinkage of the fabric web. Thetenter chain 16 is modified so that an offset 18 is provided in whichthe offset carries the fabric web through treating medium 20. A suitabletrough 22 is provided with conduit means 24 for circulating the treatingmedium 20, preferably in the direction of travel of the fabric web.Conduit means include inlet conduit 26 and outlet conduit 28. Outletconduit 28 is connected to a suitable pump on the intake side thereofand inlet conduit 26 is connected to the outlet side of the pump. Aheating means to maintain the temperature of treating medium 20 isinterposed into the conduit means 24. Suitable metering device isconnected to the conduit means so as to add additional treating mediumto the trough to maintain a desired level therein.

When fabric web approaches offset 18 formed in the tenter frame, thematerial is carried into treating medium and immersed therein. Also, thewidth of the tenter frame is adjusted gradually to a predetermined widthto allow for the percentage of transverse shrinkage of the fabric web,as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tenter frame is provided with means foradjusting the width thereof in which the sprockets for mounting thetenter chain 16 are provided with adjusting means for adjusting thetenter frame inwardly and outwardly. By adjusting the width of thesprockets at one end of the tenter frame, a gradual decrease in width ofthe tenter frame is provided, as illus trated in FIG. 2.

The longitudinal shrinkage of the fabric web is provided by the amountof overfeed of the fabric web when fed onto the pins of the tenterchain. Thus, when the fabric web passes through the treating medium 20the shrinkage, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction, iscontrolled so that the treated fabric web is in an open, unstretched andrelaxed condition whereby the texture providing offsets of the filamentsand the interlacing loops and offsets of the yarns are maintainedtherein.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in dotted lines, the width of the fabric web10 is increased as it passes through the treating medium so as to removeor partially remove the degree of texture in the transverse directionoriginally imparted to the fabric web, as desired. Similarly, thetexture may be modified in the longitudinal direction by underfeedingthe fabric web onto the pins of the tenter chain 16. Thus, as the fabricweb passes through the treating medium 20, a predetermined degree oftexture is removed both in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

The fabric web after passing through treating medium 20 is removed fromthe tenter frame and passed through a washing bath 30 which ismaintained at a temperature lower than the temperature of the treatingmedium whereby the texture providing crimps and offsets in the filamentsor fibers are uniformly reset and the interlacing loops and offsets ofthe yarns are uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memorysubstantially equal to the temperature of the liquid treating medium.Thereafter the fabric web is rinsed to remove any excess treating mediumand dried for subsequent use as desired.

The following are specific examples illustrating preferred methods ofcontinuously treating synthetic material to uniformly set the texturetherein:

EXAMPLE 1 Unfinished polyester texturized material, sold under thetrademark Dacron, having its texture set at approximately 320 F., woundin a roll approximately 1,000 feet in length and 80 inches wide, is fedat a rate of 3 ft./ second onto a modified pin type tenter frame 80inches Wide, which maintains the width of the polyester material whilecarrying out my continuous process to uniformly reset the textureproviding crimps and offsets of the filaments or fibers and uniformlyset the interlacing loops or offsets of the yarns. The polyestermaterial when mounted on the tenter frame is not subjected to anytensive forces, either transverse or longitudinal. It is passed througha liquid treating medium of diethylene glycol at a speed of 3 ft./

second with the temperature of the liquid maintained at approximately400 F. The polyester material, while passing through the liquid treatingmedium, is immersed for a period of time no longer than 5 seconds so asto be heated to a temperature higher than that at which the texture wasimparted to the polyester material and also higher than the temperaturesto which thefabric is normally subjected in the subsequent processingand use thereof, but at a temperature below the glass transitiontemperature of the material. Also, while the polyester material ispassing through the liquid treating medium, the flow of the liquid ismaintained at approximately 3 ft./second in the direction of the feed sothat the relative velocity of the material with respect to the flow ofthe liquid is approximately zero. There are no additional tensive forcesexerted on the material above that of its own mass being supported onthe apparatus, the surface tension of the liquid treating medium and theresidual amount of liquid adhering to the material. No forces areexerted on the material to withdraw it from the liquid treating medium,other than as described above.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 2 Unfinished polyacrylonitrile texturized material, sold underthe trademark Orlon, having its texture set at approximately 300 F.,wound in a roll approximately 1,000 feet in length and inches wide, isfed at a rate of 1.5 ft./ second onto a modified pin type tenter frame80 inches wide, and treated in a similar manner as set forth inExample 1. The material is subject to no additional tensive forces otherthan that as set forth therein.

The liquid treating medium of ethylene glycol and 8% dipropylenecarbonate is maintained at a temperature of approximately 350 F.vDipropylene carbonate is added to the liquid treating medium in orderto reduce the treating time required to uniformly set the texture of thematerial. However, it may be omitted with the attendant increase intreating time. The rate of feed of the material through the liquid is1.5 ft./second and the material is in contact with the liquid treatingmedium for 10 seconds. The fiow of the liquid is in the direction of thefeed at a rate of approximately 1.5 ft./ second.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 3 Unfinished triacetate texturized material, sold under thetrademark Arnel, having its texture set at approximately 300 F., woundin a roll approximately 1,000 feet in length and 80 inches wide, ismounted onto a modified pin type tenter frame 80 inches wide, andtreated as in Example 1, employing the same feed rate of material,liquid flow rate in the direction of feed and the material is immersedin the liquid treating medium for a period of time no longer than 5seconds. The liquid treating medium of propylene glycol is maintained ata temperature of approximately 340 F. Dipropylene carbonate may be addedto the propylene glycol in the manner as set forth in Example 2.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 4 Unfinished polyamide texturized material, sold under the tradename nylon type 6, having its texture set at approximately 300 F., woundin a roll approximately 1,000 feet in length and 80 inches wide, ismounted on to a modified pin type tenter frame 80 inches wide, andtreated as in Example 1, employing the same conditions except that thetemperature of the liquid treating medium is maintained at approximately325 F.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 5 Unfinished polyester texturized material, sold under thetrademark Dacron, having its texture set at approximately 320 F., woundin a roll approximately 1,000 feet in length and 80 inches wide, is fedat a rate of 3.3 ft./second to allow for shrinkage of the material inthe longitudinal direction onto a modified pin type tenter frame 80inches wide, which maintains the width of the polyester material whilecarrying out my continuous process to uniformly reset the textureproviding crimps and offsets of the filaments or fibers and uniformlyset the interlacing loops or offsets of the yarns. The polyestermaterial when mounted on the tenter frame is not subjected to anytensive forces, either transverse or longitudinal. The web is passedthrough a liquid treating medium of diethylene glycol at a speed of 3ft./ second with the temperature of the liquid maintained atapproximately 425 F. While the material is passing through thediethylene glycol bath the width of the tenter frame is graduallyreduced to 72 to allow for 10% shrinkage in the width of the material.

The polyester material, while passing through the liquid treatingmedium, is immersed for a period of time no longer than 5 seconds so asto be heated to a temperature higher than that at which the texture wasimparted to the polyester material and also higher than the temperaturesto which the fabric is normally subjected in the subsequent processingand use thereof, but at a temperature below the glass transitiontemperature of the material. Also, while the material is passing throughthe liquid treating medium, the flow of the liquid is maintained atapproximately 3 ft./second in the direction of the feed so that therelative velocity of the material with respect to the flow of the liquidis approximately zero.-

There are no additional tensive forces exerted on the material abovethat of its own mass being supported on the apparatus, the surfacetension of the liquid treating me dium and the residual amount of liquidadhering to the material. No forces are exerted on the material to with-8 draw it from the liquid treating medium other than as described above.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 6 The material of Example 2 is treated in the same manner as setforth in Example 5, except that the liquid treating medium isdipropylene glycol and the temperature of the liquid is maintained atapproximately 350 F.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for further processing, such as dyeing, applyinganti-static agents, UV absorbers, or the like.

EXAMPLE 7 The material of Example 4 is treated in the same manner as setforth in Example 5, except that the liquid treating medium is ethyleneglycol maintained at a temperature of approximately 340 F.

The material is then passed through a water bath, maintained at ambienttemperature, to set the material at the treatment temperature and toremove any of the residual treatment solution, whereby the textureproviding offsets have been uniformly reset and the interlacing loopsand offsets have been uniformly set at a relatively high elastic memoryso that it can thereafter withstand normal processing and usage whilestill maintaining its texture and its natural appearance, bulk and hand,and is ready for furtehr processing, such as dyeing, applying antistaticagents, UV absorbers, or the like.

In place of the specific liquid treating mediums men tioned above, anyof the polyhydric alcohols, alkylene carbonates, or mixtures thereof, ora mixture of any of the polyhydric alcohols and diglycolic acid orphosphoric acid, may be substituted for the liquid treating mediums setforth to obtain similar results.

From the foregoing examples, it is obvious that any form of syntheticmaterial may be employed, such as knitted or woven, or they may beblended with natural fibers or yarns, or blended with ohter syntheticmaterial.

It is apparent that various modifications may be made in the method forcarrying out my invention and various materials may be substituted forthe liquid treating medium; the rate of feed and velocity of thematerial and the velocity and direction of flow of the liquid treatingmedium may be altered without departing from the invention herein.

I claim:

1. The method of treating a textile fabric web of fibers made of amaterial selected from the group consisting of polyester, acrylonitrilepolymer and cellulose triacetate to uniformly reset its shape andtexture at a higher elastic memory, the web being formed of fibers withinterlacing loops and offsets, and the fibers having original textureproviding offsets formed at a predetermined temperature so as to providea texture thereon which comprises:

(a) supporting the fabric web in an open, relaxed condition on a tenterframe with the fibers in unstretched condition so that the texture ofcrimps and interlacing loops and oflsets is maintained in the relaxedweb;

(b) moving said web in a longitudinal direction at 1-15 feet per secondthrough a heated bath of liquid treating medium selected from the groupconsisting of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol,tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol and mixturesof the aforesaid glycols with alkylene carbonate, phosphoric acid anddiglycolic acid, said bath being maintained at a temperature of 300450F. which is above the predetermined temperature at which the originaltexture was imparted to the fibers but below the glass transitiontemperature of the material of the fibers;

(c) moving the liquid medium in the same direction as the web at 1-15feet per second while the web is immersed in the heated bath and issupported on the tenter frame to thereby reduce tensile forces on theweb due to drag by the liquid, said movement of web and liquid mediumproviding a contact time of l to 15 seconds whereby the fibers in theweb, in a relaxed condition, are heated to the temperature of the liquidmedium with the forces against said web being due solely to the movementof the liquid medium at a relative velocity of the liquid medium withrespect to the web of approximately zero; and

(d) thereafter removing and cooling the web by quenching in water atroom temperature to uniformly reset the texture-providing crimps andinterlacing doops and offsets at a higher elastic memory whereby thenatural appearance, bulk and hand are uniformly maintained.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1942 Miles 8130.1 12/1944Benger 8-1301 8/1951 Cadgene 8130.1 10/1955 Blount.

1/1959 Adams 8-130.1 5/1960 Hermes 8-1301 3/ 1962 Finlayson et al 28-769/1962 Miller 8-1301 1/ 1965 Hirshfeld 2876 5/ 1965 Tanner 2876 6/1967Such 2876 1/1968 Brown et al. 28-72 7/ 1942 Miles. 7/1952 Hebeler264-168 2/1962 Fitzgerald 2872.1 7/1967 Fujita et al. 264-103 8/1968Olson 161-173 Great Britain.

JULIUS FROME, Primary Examiner H. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

mg? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,530,214 Dated September 22 1910 Inventor(s) J. Hermes It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 8, line 67, after "polyester, insert polyamide,

Column 9; line 8;, -fdel ete "with"-'end insert ih its place and onematerial selected from the group" consisting of --j colunln 9, line '30,"doop s" should re d loops V V Signed and sealed this 20th; day of April1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD MFLSTCHER,JR.

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. Attestlng Officer Commissioner of Patents

